1998 to 2002 VITARA GOOD or BAD

[dongbadz]

Hey Guys,

Im planning to acquire a 2nd hand Vitara ( 1998-2002 model)

Presently I have my 98 Honda City and a 2000 GLX Lancer..

Im Planning to replace it to a vitara because I need a bigger but powerful car.. Medyo mabigat kasi lagi sakay ko and mahirap isakay lagi sa kotse,

Is it worth ba to replaced my car to Vitara?
Please advise for the maintenance and fuel efficiency of Vitara...

Wat series of Vitara is much Better? eg.JLX...

Thanks a lot

[OTEP]

Alin pong generation? GEN I:


or GEN II:


GEN I is available in JLX trim. For the model year you mentioned, meron na ding Vitara Plus available that time. It has a center meter (parang Pajero), fender flares, wide mags, European rear bumper, towbar, etc.

GEN II is available in 2.0 and V6 trim levels. JayCrew of Tsikot.com/4x4ph.com recently got one to replace his Strada. Php450k niya yata nakuha. Naka-Old Man Emu suspension na.

I can't speak for the GEN II since I only have experience with the GEN I (use search function to check other Vitara threads or just see similar threads at bottom of page).

www.4x4ph.com is a great resource since that is where the Vitara Club peeps hang out.

Btw, this Vitara is for sale (nakita ko lang sa FOR SALE section ng 4x4ph):

240,000 asking price
Acquired November 2005

OME Struts (less than a year old)
OME Rear Shocks/Springs (less than a year old)
1" Aluminum Spacers Front and Rear
Mud Tires (235/75/R15)

New Timing Belt (OEM)
New Water Pump (GMB)
New Cooling Coil
Air Con: Newly Serviced at Gen-Aire (Morato)

Mileage: 96,000 Kms

I'm sad to say that this has never been trailed. (Sagabal ang trabaho)

Note: Unit is no longer two-toned. Bumper and fenders are now dark green as well.

Please text me at 0917-5381675 for faster transactions.

[alwayz_yummy]

ok yan sir tep,a!me likes...

[OTEP]

Ako nga din inuuntog ko ulo ko sa pader. Sana hindi muna namin nakuha yung pula (it was acquired August 2005). hehehe.

Mas mura pa itong nasa ad and mas loaded (stock lang yung pula). Automatic pa! Manual lang yung red.

Siguro consuelo na lang na walang issues yung pula even up to now (lower mileage din nakuha, ~80,000kms). Yung brake master lang ang sira which was easily changed by afrasay's cousin.

[alwayz_yummy]

swerte na din yan...hay...sayang wala din me, liteace at isang owner lang pwede ko mapalit,e.......

[dongbadz]

will try to contact that sir.

sir magastos ba sa maintenance ang VITARA? compare sa mga sedan car? how about sa gas consumption nya? AT/MT?

What can you recommend? a gen1, or gen 2?

Tnx po

[OTEP]

Nung kumuha kami, less than Php300k lang ang budget so GEN I lang talaga ang kaya. Siyempre kung kaya ng budget ang GEN II, mas ok iyon.

Maintenance ok lang naman, replacement parts gamit ko. Hindi naman kami kukuha ng Vitara kung mahal ang maintenance niya (low budget na nga yung pambili, low budget din for maintenance).

Gas is 7-9km/L basta alaga sa maintenance. 1.6l yung GEN I. GEN II is 2.0l up na.

Malakas ang third party support ng Suzuki kahit medyo specialized yung product. Meron ngang third-party (non casa/non manufacturer) Suzuki specialist shop dito malapit sa amin (Filmar's Katipunan). Halos puro Suzuki lang ang ginagawa dun. Dun ko kasi kinuha yung inorder kong shocks (brand new Monroe rear gas shocks ay Php1,450/pr, sa Civic ba magkano ang isang pares ng shock?).

For consumables, kahit yung non-specialized Auto Supply ni GlennSter sa Kamias ay kumpleto. Dun ako nagpapalit ng axle boot last month. Php130.00 per boot lang. Parang Php300.00/side naman ang labor.

Dito nakapost yung name and contact number ng iba pang Suzuki part stores: http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31039

Couldn't find the old posts. From what I remember:
Monroe Rear shocks - Php1,450/pair from iceman of 4x4ph
Air filter - Php280.00
Spark plug - Php75.00/ea
Fuel filter - Php150.00
Oil filter - Php150.00

[coiter]

about the gen 1 vitara....
kung interior space, parang mas maluwag ang compact car. maliit din ang trunk space nya. advantage mo lang is it can load taller but narrower items. though di ko sure kung pwede mong ifold down ang rear seats.. also, i don't think it has 'more power' than a compact sedan.

sa gen 2 vitara la pa kong experience. but compared to the gen 1, mas ok to.

[dongbadz]

kung kau bibili nung naka post how much nyo bibilhin ito? kc I am interested... Is it a good buy na?

tnx

[OTEP]

Passenger space is pretty much the same. Madali pang sumakay sa Vitara kasi you just step into it. The seat is almost the same level as your butt. No need to 'drop' yourself into the cabin. No need for side steps also.

Luggage space is cramped but you can stack luggage high due to the wagon configuration. Yup, the rear seat is a split-fold type with adjustable recline also.

Power is 95bhp.

kung kau bibili nung naka post how much nyo bibilhin ito? kc I am interested... Is it a good buy na?

Kung ok ang condition ng unit, sulit na iyan. Try mo sa Php230k pero baka hindi na ibigay. Last year Php280k pa kuha namin for the red one. Stock unit lang siya and M/T. Makinis kasi kaya pinatulan na namin. hehehe.

Yung kapitbahay ko binebenta Vitara M/T niya Php360k ang asking. 2001 model. Ewan ko kung sold na kasi hindi ko nakikita lately.

[C24]

if you need space and power, mas masikip at mas mabagal yung vitara kesa city mo. although matangkad yung vitara, mas makitid ang interior space. we had a 97 city, 97 vitara, 00 grand vitara v6, but sold na lahat. the gen 1 had rancho 9000 rear shocks and the gv had ome springs and shocks. if you're not going off roading, mas okay ang handling ng gv and it's very torquey and quick (manual tranny). it pulls almost like an e30 323i w/ manual tranny in the 1st 3 gears. matibay yung suspension ng gen 1, after 70T km and 30% of that over rough road walang nasira. medyo matakaw lang nga sa gas, a/t kasi.

[Horsepower]

ganda ng Vitara na yan ah.

meron po bang Gen1 / 2 Vitara na Diesel?

[OTEP]

Sa Russia meron. hehehe.

Alam ko hindi Suzuki ang mga engines. Binibili lang ng Suzuki from another brand.

[guido]

Passenger space is pretty much the same. Madali pang sumakay sa Vitara kasi you just step into it. The seat is almost the same level as your butt. No need to 'drop' yourself into the cabin. No need for side steps also.

very true. yan ang reason kaya ung vitara dito sa bahay ang lagi gamit ng 70+ yr old mother ko. sa xto kasi kailangan pa nya umapak sa stepboard. sa sedan naman kailangan i-bend yung knee and support her weight, eh may athritis na.
problema lang sa vitara medyo matagtag. hehe

ang ganda pa nga nung vit na for sale. pwede kaya shocks lang bilhin

[mikaztro]

Please refer to this link: http://4x4ph.com/forum/index.php?showforum=21

Suzuki Vitara JLX (1994 and 2004)

Lots of aftermarket parts to make your Vitara look tough and rough(Calmini.com & Rocky-road.com, etc.). There are parts available locally and can be purchased everywhere (Links banawe, Fronte banawe, Pilhino, etc)

Upside:

1. High ground clearance
2. Compact and easy to park
3. Strong engine (power to weight ratio)
4. Auto Freewheel Hubs
5. Sturdy underchassis/suspension
6. Approach and departure angles(RTI)- Good
7. Aftermarket parts availability
8. Full ladder-frame chassis
9. Compubox located high(for water fording)
10. Capable 4x4 even in box stock.

Downside:
1. Weak aircon(some units)
2. Prone to warp door sidings
3. Stock suspension (OEM) - bouncy
4. Expensive spare parts but readily available
5. Slow acceleration if matic
6. Insufficient leg room space at rear.
7. Low amp alternator rating
8. Vibrating dashboard
9. Knocking sound during higher revs.
10. Open diffs

Fuel economy - Depends on the driver & frequency of maintenance. Around 7 to 9km/Lt City & 11 to 13km/lt Highways.

* Most common defect of Vitara 97 and below are:
(check the following if you plan to buy one)

1. Fuel pump
2. Power windows/switches
3. Power steering gearbox
4. Power steering pump
5. AC Compressor
6. Alternator
7. Door sidings/claddings
8. Radiator
9. Water pump
10. Ceiling cladding
11. Vibrating dashboards (some units)
12. Clutch & break linings
13. Idling fluctuation(due to dirty throttle body)
14. Side Mirror controller switch

[OTEP]

This is wiretap_md's 'new' Vitara (it has a thread in the Me and My Tsikot forums):


Ever wondered what happened to the old one?

Flashback to December 10, 2005

Sad day indeed for me.

I was on my way this afternoon to Tagaytay around 3pm with KIDDO and 3 other doctor-companions. I was in the innermost lane right next to the guard rails travelling at 60kph. I just passed Shell Magallanes and somewhere in front of Asia Pacific College when this delivery truck about 20 meters ahead of me in the lane adjacent to mine locked its brakes. Nakita ko pa yung smoke coming out from his front left tire. The trunk then suddenly did a 90 degree turn to my lane. The moment I saw the smoke, I hit the brakes but it was too late. It slammed against my front right fender. We were pinned between the truck and the guardrails. However, the force was so strong that it made my front left tures bite against the guard rails causing KIDDO to climb over and remain balanced. We were in a 45 degree angle to the right. Fortunately, none of us were hurt.

I sent out a broadcast message to my tsikot, dieselclub.org, and 4x4ph/VCP friends. Afrasay was the first to arrive in his Patrol. He accompanied me all the way to the TMG impounding area in Bicutan were I filed my affidavit. Thanks to barcus for his flatbed recommendation, I was able to get KIDDO out of the area and now he rests at FILMAR.

Damage so far? Crushed rear fender. I'm not sure if my front A-arms were affected but hopefully not. I foresee some chassis structural damage because the body looked bent. Rear right panel just below the quarter panel was dented as well.

The delivery truck was owned by a certain SO-NICE international corpration based in Sun Valley Paranaque. Manager is Mr. Oscar Kho. Tel. 821-2736-37.

I will try to get in touch with him on Monday and see how I can claim for damages. As for now, I'm still in a state of shock and disbelief. How I wish it were all just a bad dream that I could just have woken up from. What really saddens me is the effort and memmories I put into KIDDO. I have no plans of having him repaired. No amount of repairs will be able to bring him back to his pre-accident form. Tapos the effort and hassle pa sa repairs, etc. Best to salvage parts from him nalang and put it in another VITARA should I decide to get one again.

Sigh.

To all who texted me their sympathies and comfort, a big thank you. Its so heartwarming to know that during times like these, I have brothers and sisters in the online community whom I could turn to.

Ang tibay! hehehe.

[CVT]

Texted the cellphone (0917-5381675 ) for the Vitara on sale. No response.

Already sold?



:starwars:

[OTEP]

NEWS FLASH: It has been put off the market just today.

Meron pa namang ibang units sa FOR SALE section ng 4x4ph.com

[garyq]

had a vit for almost a year. manual, JLX trim. of course mas matagtag compared sa kotse, 7 km/liter lang nakukuha ko but it's built like a truck. yung dash ko maalog and yung mga sidings nagwa warp nga. torquey engine (pang hatak) kaya hindi maganda konsumo pero malakas humatak. Kung may extra 350K ako to burn I'd buy one again and convert it to diesel!hehe. Mazda engine naka kabit sa mga Vit sa Europe. RFZ swak dyan. 2.0 td engine.

[CVT]

NEWS FLASH: It has been put off the market just today.

Meron pa namang ibang units sa FOR SALE section ng 4x4ph.com

\

The 'owner' texted me back,- sold na raw!

Note: This is my 888th post!!!

:starwars: